Definately NOT a scam, but a case of ISAF breaking their own rules.


H20 wrote




Sirena putting in more Energy ? Hell no, we all put in alot of energy to grow our classes. It is more a case of ISAF working against the efforts of classes that for some reason they don't approve of. I seem to remember the Hobie Wave class doing alot of good work as well and still earn the wrath of ISAF because they held an "unrecognised" world championship. SL16 does the same and everything is just dandy ?!

In addition the F20 class had to remove the world international from their name a few years ago or risk ISAF banning all F20 sailors from competing in any and all ISAF governed events. For some reason the INTERNATIONAL SL16 class doesn't have to comply with the same rulings on this. And don't tell me that the SL16 class is truly international according to the ISAF regulations, I know the regulation and it isn't.

If even have an official reply by an ISAF respresentative stating that SL16 class is neither recognised nor international and ISAF have not used the "exceptional status" ruling in the SL16 case. The SL16 class is just like the Wave class and others and therefor can not use the words "world" or "international" in relation to their class and events.

I wouldn't have any problem with this situation if it were not for the ISAF double standard.

Now I know that "who you know" is of importance here, but that is just favoritism and something none of us should accept.

My preferred situation would be for ISAF to back off permanently and just make "recognition" really attractive for the classes themselfs. I'm sorry to say but this SL16 case is just the one to break open ISAF stranglehold.





I'm not to worried about that. I'm quite sure that ISAF is full aware of the situation, they just want to break their own rules because it is they themselfs who are trying to build up this class. And wonder oh wonder they run into the same problems as any other class. You just can't suddenly become an international or recognised class overnight. Not being able to have regional championships and world championships is a serious impediment to growing your class to the required level. SL16 class will have to have a world championship of some sort or they won't sell any boats. It is far more cheap to just youth race Hobie 16's. And I bet ISAF knows this. So they temporarily forgot about their own rules.

Having said all this. I don't expect ISAF to punish any youth sailor attending however. So any youth team out there, write yourself in.





Actually I do know and that is the problem. The rules are for everyone or they are for no-one !

Let SL16 class grow themselfs over the coming years to the level of recognized/international class on their own "efforts", have them succesfully apply for ISAF status and only THEN grant them the right to hold a regional/world championship or use the word "international" in their class name. You know like all the other classes had to do.





Like I said I won't have any issue with anything if ISAF had been more accomodating to other classes like the Hobie waves. It is not the sailors and class builders who are perpetuating this "war"; it is ISAF with their bad regulations and selfimposed status as protectors of the words "world" and "international". It is ISAF that has actively tried to intervene in succesful growing of the catamaran scene (ex waves).

Maybe it is a bit sad that the much needed future youth class is in the middle of this, but then again it is not fair to other classes to let this one slide.

I propose that ISAF drop their "world" and "international" regulations and active policy of threatening to ban all participants to NON ISAF recognized events. Then they can do with their SL16 class what they like and so can the other classes. And then we can happily live side by side and support one another.


Wouter